Electronic Device Housing with Integrated Antenna

1. An electronic device comprising: a display; a cover over the display and defining at least a portion of a front surface of the electronic device; and a housing comprising: a first metal segment defining a portion of a back surface of the electronic device; a second metal segment defining: a first portion of a top side surface of the electronic device; and a first portion of a first lateral side surface of the electronic device; a third metal segment defining: a second portion of the top side surface of the electronic device; and a first portion of a second lateral side surface of the electronic device; and a molded element formed of a polymer material and positioned between the first metal segment and the second metal segment and between the first metal segment and the third metal segment and defining: a second portion of the first lateral side surface of the electronic device; a second portion of the second lateral side surface of the electronic device; and a third portion of the top side surface of the electronic device.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the second metal segment is configured to function as an antenna.

3. The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein: the antenna is a first antenna; and the third metal segment is configured to function as a second antenna.

4. The electronic device of claim 3 , wherein: the housing defines a slot extending through the back surface; the slot defines a length of the second metal segment; and the length of the second metal segment corresponds to a wavelength of a wireless communication frequency of the antenna.

5. The electronic device of claim 4 , wherein: the slot is a first slot; the wireless communication frequency is a first wireless communication frequency; the housing further defines a second slot extending through the back surface, the second slot having a different length than the first slot; the second slot defines a length of the third metal segment; and the length of the third metal segment corresponds to a wavelength of a second wireless communication frequency different from the first wireless communication frequency.

6. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein: the housing is a single piece of aluminum; the first metal segment and the second metal segment are connected by a first bridge segment defined by the single piece of aluminum; and the first metal segment and the third metal segment are connected by a second bridge segment defined by the single piece of aluminum.

7. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the second metal segment is longer than the first metal segment.

8. An electronic device comprising: a display; a cover assembly defining at least a portion of a front surface of the electronic device; a touch sensor configured to detect touch inputs applied to the front surface of the electronic device; a housing at least partially enclosing the display and the touch sensor and comprising: a first conductive segment defining a portion of a back surface of the electronic device; a second conductive segment defining: a first portion of a first lateral side surface of the electronic device; and a first portion of a top side surface of the electronic device; a third conductive segment coupled to the first conductive segment and defining: a first portion of a second lateral side surface of the electronic device; and a second portion of the top side surface of the electronic device, the second portion of the top side surface longer than the first portion of the top side surface; and a nonconductive molded element positioned in: a first gap defined between the first conductive segment and the second conductive segment; and a second gap defined between the first conductive segment and the third conductive segment; and antenna circuitry coupled to the second conductive segment.

9. The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein: the portion of the back surface of the electronic device is a first portion of the back surface; and the nonconductive molded element defines a second portion of the back surface.

10. The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the housing further comprises: a first bridge segment structurally and conductively coupling the first conductive segment to the second conductive segment; and a second bridge segment structurally and conductively coupling the first conductive segment to the third conductive segment.

11. The electronic device of claim 10 , wherein the first conductive segment, the second conductive segment, the third conductive segment, the first bridge segment, and the second bridge segment are formed from a single piece of metal.

12. The electronic device of claim 10 , wherein: the housing further comprises a fourth conductive segment structurally and conductively coupled to the first conductive segment by the first bridge segment; the antenna circuitry is first antenna circuitry; and the electronic device further comprises second antenna circuitry coupled to the fourth conductive segment.

13. The electronic device of claim 8 , further comprising: an electrical ground coupled to a first location of the second conductive segment; and an antenna feed coupled to a second location of the second conductive segment.

14. The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein: the antenna circuitry is first antenna circuitry configured to process signals corresponding to a first wireless communication protocol; and the electronic device further comprises second antenna circuitry coupled to the third conductive segment and configured to process signals corresponding to a second wireless communication protocol different from the first wireless communication protocol.

15. An electronic device comprising: a display; a housing member at least partially surrounding the display and comprising: a first conductive segment defining a first portion of a back wall of the electronic device; a second conductive segment configured to function as an antenna and defining: a corner of the housing member; a first portion of a first side wall of the electronic device; and a first portion of a second side wall of the electronic device, the second side wall joining the first side wall at the corner of the housing member; and a molded nonconductive element defining: a second portion of the back wall of the electronic device; a second portion of the first side wall of the electronic device; and a second portion of the second side wall of the electronic device.

16. The electronic device of claim 15 , wherein the housing member further defines a bridge segment structurally and conductively coupling the first conductive segment to the second conductive segment.

17. The electronic device of claim 16 , wherein the first conductive segment, the second conductive segment, and the bridge segment are formed from a single piece of metal.

18. The electronic device of claim 16 , wherein the molded nonconductive element at least partially encapsulates the bridge segment.

19. The electronic device of claim 15 , wherein the electronic device further comprises antenna circuitry coupled to the second conductive segment and configured to process signals corresponding to a wireless communication protocol.

20. The electronic device of claim 19 , wherein a length of the second conductive segment corresponds to a wavelength of the wireless communication protocol.